SPRINGFIELD - Capt. Tim Sestito of the Springfield Falcons looked across the locker room at his teammate, Rob Schremp, then shook his head and smiled.

"I've been following Robbie since we were kids. He can't shake me," Sestito said.

Sestito comes from Rome. N.Y., Schremp from nearby Lockport, N.Y. As teenagers, they played minor hockey together for the Syracuse Stars.

"I'll tell you, Robbie comes back to us with a great attitude, and he'll help our offense. Heck, he has the skills to make plays I wouldn't even think of making. He's fun to watch," Sestito said.

Springfield fans would agree. They're looking forward to seeing Schremp in action when he returns to MassMutual Center ice Saturday night. He was returned Tuesday to the Falcons after a four-game stay with Springfield's parent club, the Edmonton Oilers.

The Falcons of the American Hockey League host the Toronto Marlies Saturday. Before that, they face a forecast of snow and a bus trip to Bridgeport for a Friday night game with the Sound Tigers.

The busy pre-Christmas weekend will wrap up Sunday with a 4:05 game at Providence.

"Having Robbie back and getting Tim (Sestito) off the injured list will improve out scoring potential and give us added leadership on the ice," Falcons coach Jeff Truitt said.

Schremp is back in the AHL simply because the Oilers believe it's the right place for him at this time, given their roster situation.

They hold him in high regard - they took him as their No. 1 draft pick in 2004 - and it is for that very reason they want him getting a lot of playing time. He wouldn't get that with the Oilers now, after they recently activated wingers Sam Gagner and Robert Nilsson from the injury list.

"It wouldn't make sense for Rob to go up and play on the fourth line. He's not a checker, he's a playmaker and a scorer. Players need to understand their roles," Truitt said.

An example of that would be Liam Reddox, a former Falcon who remains with the Oilers. Why him instead of Schremp? Because Reddox fills a certain role as a checker and penalty-kill player.

Schremp does understand the situation, and because he does, he can have that good attitude about being returned to the Falcons.

"It's my role," he said, referring to playing on a line designed for scoring. "It's where I fit. Work hard at it every day and see what happens."

Truitt watched three of Schremp's games with the Oilers, in which he assisted on three goals.

"He did very well. He kept it simple and didn't over-handle the puck. We expect to see that from him here, and we're looking for him to shoot the puck more," Truitt said.

Schremp had one goal in 18 games before his call to Edmonton, but he was leading the team in assists with 17.

"Robbie will help us keep the puck moving. That's what we need to do," the coach said.

ICE CHIPS: Truitt will have some line decisions to make, but isn't ready to make them just yet. "Tomorrow morning," he said. "I'll look at Bridgeport's roster, and at our morning skate, then I'll decide" . . . The Falcons have sharpshooter Gilbert Brule back from the Oilers, but he can't play until Sunday as he finishes out the four-game suspension imposed upon him before his call to the NHL came . . . Truitt noted that Bridgeport is a disciplined team, ranking No. 3 in the AHL in fewest minutes lost to penalties. The Falcons rank in the middle of the pack in that department. "The quantity of our penalties is pretty good, but the quality isn't always. Sometimes we get caught running to catch up, and that can lead to hooking," Truitt said.